Multiple truncated conical element combustion chamber



J. 5. CLARKE 2,525,206 MULTIPLB-"I'RUNCATEUCWICAL ELEMENT comaus'rzon CHAMBER Get. 10, 1950 Filed Feb. 8, 1946 \irlllyuwlll Patented Oct. 10, 1950 .MULTI PLE TRUNCATED CONICAL ELEMENT COMBUSTIQN CHAMBER John Stanley Clarke, Birmingham, England-as signor to Joseph Lucas Limited, Birmingham,

England Application February 8, 1946, Serial No. 646,395 In Great Britain December 13, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires December 13, 1964 1 Claim.

This invention relates to internal combustion prime movers, of the kind adapted to utilise the energy of a continuous stream of hot gases. The object of the invention is to provide improved means for generating the hot gas stream.

The invention comprises the combination of a combustion chamber, a coaxial mixing chamber for mixing the products of combustion with diluent air, and a jacket which surrounds the said chambers and is closed (or substantially closed) at the end remote from its inlet end, the mixing chamber consisting of a series of annular components of truncated conical form which are connected to each other and to the combustion chamber by junctions formed with perforations, for the admission of diluent air from the jacket.

The accompanying drawing is a sectional side view of means constructed in accordance with the invention. I

In carrying the invention into effect as shown, I employ a sheet metal combustion chamber a of substantially cylindrical form and provided With a perforated domed end cover I). The latter carries an axially arranged liquid fuel nozzle surrounded b stationary guide vanes d past which air from any convenient source can enter the combustion chamber a, the guide vanes being adapted to impart a uniform rotary motion to the air. The perforations b in the end cover I) also enable air from the said source to enter the combustion chamber a. Moreover, there may be provided in the interior of the end cover I) a perforated bafile e adapted to ensure proper distribution of the air entering the end cover around the fluid jets issuing from the nozzle 0.

The open end of the combustion chamber a terminates in a coaxial mixing chamber f in which the products of combustion are mixed with diluent air. The mixing chamber f consists of a series of two or more annular sheet metal elements f of truncated conical form. The larger end of the first element f is adjacent to the exit end of the combustion chamber a (which latter may terminate as shown in a short portion of truncated conical form), and the smaller end of the first element is adjacent to the larger end of the second element. When only two elements I are used, the second ismade considerably longer than the first. The elements 1 are connected to each other and to the combustion chamber a by annular junction pieces f the latter being formed with perforations f for the admission of diluent air. Alternatively each junction piece may be formed integrally with one end of one of the parts to be connected.

Around the'combustion and mixing chambers a, f is arranged a sheet metal casing g which forms an annular air jacket 'h around the said chambers. The jacket h receives air from the same source as the combustion chamber a, the diluent air being directed into the jacket by an annular deflector 2' adjacent to the closed end of the combustion chamber. The end of the jacket h adjacent to the discharge end of the mixing chamber f is closed or substantially closed by a ring I which slidably supports the adjacent end of the mixing chamber and which may be formed with longitudinal grooves a through which air flow can occur to effect a cooling action in the region of the said end. The ring I also forms part of an expansion joint between the adjacent ends of the casing g and an outlet connection 7c communicating with the discharge end of the mixing chamber f.

When the apparatus is in operation, primary combustion of the fuel occurs in the region of the closed end of the combustion chamber a. and the combustion is completed by the admission of secondary air from the jacket it through perforations m adjacent to the said region. On issuing from the combustion chamber a the products of combustion meet a stream of diluent air entering from the jacket h through the perforations i between the combustion chamber and the first element f of the mixing chamber and at the junction of this element with the second element of the mixing chamber a further admission of diluent air from the jacket is effected through the other perforations f the process being repeated when more than two mixing chamber elements are used. Finally the mixture of hot gases emerges from the mixing chamber 1 and is thence conveyed from the outlet connection It by a pipe to a turbine or elsewhere where it is required to utilise the energy of the stream.

By this invention I am able to effect the mixing of diluent air with the products of combustion in a manner which involves a minimum of energy loss. The invention is not, however,

limited to the example above described as constructional details may be varied to suit different requirements.

Having thus described my invention what I ponents of truncated conical form for mixing REFERENCES CITED the products of combustion with diluent air, and

a jacket which surrounds the said chambers and g g g g gg fg are of record in the is at least substantially closed at the end remote UNITED 'STATES PATENTS from its inlet end, of annular junction pieces 5 which directly connect the annular components Number Name Date of the mixing chamber to each other and to the 2,107,365 Bray Feb. 8, 1938 combustion chamber, and which are formed wi h 2,268,464 Seippel Dec. 30, 1941 perforations for the admission of diluent air from 93, 54 Lubbock 16, 194 the jacket. 10

JOHN STANLEY CLARKE. 

